Media stars in 7 key Senate races

Home-state media will be crucial in how Senate contests play out. | Courtesy

ARKANSAS: Sen. Mark Pryor (D) vs. Rep. Tom Cotton (R)

Nearly all major candidates make their way to Roby Brock, executive producer and host of “Talk Business & Politics,” a website, magazine and local TV show, described by state politicos as a “must-read” and one of the most “plugged-in” sources of political news in the state.

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“I get a lot of exclusive interviews, first interviews with candidates — I tend to sit down with candidates when they have news,” Brock said in an interview.

He has hosted the “Talk Business & Politics” TV show on Sundays in Arkansas for 15 years, conducting more than 1,500 interviews. The broadcast recently moved from the local Fox affiliate to ABC affiliate KATV airing right after “This Week.” Brock also regularly blogs on the site TalkBusiness.net

“For our viewers, listeners and readers, my aim is to make sure you have a level of knowledge far beyond the topline reasons given in a sound bite or quote,” Brock wrote in the May/June issue of Talk Business magazine.

His website features reporting as well ’ as blogs from either side of the aisle. “Not only do I cover political news down the middle of the path, we have a Republican and Democrat blogger (on the site), so they tend to the issue from more a partisan slant put their opinions out there in combination with the news,” Brock said.

Another journalist to follow is John Brummett, a columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette whom Brock called “one of the best political commentators in Arkansas; both sides like to read him.”

When The Denver Post’s Lynn Bartels was told she was the one person cited by operatives in the state as the top campaign reporter, Bartels laughed.

“That’s not that high of a compliment, because I’m one of the only ones left,” she said.

Colorado has seen the number of political reporters sliced in half over the past few years and reporters are spread thin. Bartels said she’s covering the Senate race, two House races, the governor’s race and a few ballot measures — a job that used to be done by a team of five.

“She works her sources almost every waking hour,” Bartels’ editor, Chuck Plunkett, said. “She’s just hungry for knowing what’s going on in Colorado politics.”

Between the focus on energy issues and the Senate race ripe for a Republican pickup, the national media is “parachuting in” Bartels said, putting a spotlight on the race. But Bartels still has her handle on the contest: She was the first to break the news that Gardner would run.

“It’s weird to me because it kind of feels like what used to be our race, is now such a national race. It’s almost like this national U.S. Senate race that happens to be in Colorado,” Bartels said.

Other reporters in the state to watch include Eli Stokols with the Fox affiliate and Shaun Boyd with the CBS affiliate in Denver.

Lisa Demer at the Anchorage Daily News is one of the state’s long-standing political reporters, on the beat for the Anchorage Daily News since 1994.

“The best political reporter in Alaska is Lisa Demer,” Alaska Dispatch reporter and author Dermot Cole wrote in an email. “Demer is smart, methodical and careful.”

Last month, the state’s media experienced an upheaval when the website Alaska Dispatch announced it was purchasing the mainstay Alaskan newspaper, The Anchorage Daily news. Now, two of the biggest sources for news will go from competitors to collaborators.

“They have a little bit of opportunity here — most of what I’ve heard is they’ve got an opportunity to determine what kind of spotlight they’ll give to political coverage,” Sen. Mark Begich’s campaign spokesman, Max Croes, said.

With Alaska’s vast expanses, radio also plays a unique role, from the public radio station to some more conservative talk radio hosts. In a state where some areas are not accessible by car, stations like Alaska Public Media and shows from people such as Glenn Biegel, Mike Porcaro and Rick Rydell have a wider reach than some of the papers.

“Public radio most certainly has a far larger reach in Alaska than what you’d expect in other states, because of so many of the communities. For example, there’s no drive time radio in southeastern Alaska, fishermen are on their boats,” Croes said.

Another journalist to watch is Alaska Dispatch co-founder Amanda Coyne, who now runs an eponymous blog.

Chad Selweski’s blog, “Politically Speaking,” is a go-to site for insiders.

“Chad is a veteran, award-winning reporter who understands the dynamic of politics not only in Macomb County but Lansing and Washington, D.C. as well,” said Macomb Daily Managing Editor Jeff Payne. “With this understanding he is able to present complex issues in a way that makes sense to readers.”

Michigan has a vibrant political press corp — but it’s a small group, one that could fit around a conference table.

“They’re tenacious, they’re tough to everyone on both sides, which is good,” said Darren Littell, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party. “I don’t mind talking to a reporter that’s going to task me with tough questions knowing that they’ll also ask the other folks tough questions.”

For those willing to pay, there are multiple subscription-based politics sites to choose from, from Susan Deemer’s Inside Michigan Politics and the news services MIRS and Gongwer for the political addicts. The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News are the top papers in the state with often-cited reporters like Todd Spangler and Marisa Schultz.